What did Thomas Jefferson say about changing the Constitution?
Asked by: Montana Reichel | Last update: February 5, 2026Score: 4.4/5 (36 votes)
Thomas Jefferson believed the Constitution should adapt to changing times, famously stating "laws and institutions must go hand in hand with the progress of the human mind," and that "the earth belongs... to the living," suggesting each generation has a right to self-governance, even proposing a constitutional expiration cycle around every 19 years to prevent entrenching outdated ideas. He advocated for amendments, especially a Bill of Rights, to safeguard liberties against a potentially overreaching government, pushing for explicit protections for freedoms like speech and religion.
How did Thomas Jefferson feel about amending the Constitution?
Thomas Jefferson expressed to James Monroe his conviction that Congress should strengthen the new Constitution by adding amendments to guarantee important civil liberties.
What did Jefferson say about the Constitution?
The earth belongs always to the living generation… Every constitution, then, and every law, naturally expires at the end of 19. years. If it be enforced longer, it is an act of force and not of right.
What was Thomas Jefferson's famous quote?
" . . . there is no act, however virtuous, for which ingenuity may not find some bad motive." "When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, an hundred." "I cannot live without books."
What did Thomas Jefferson believe about the longevity of constitutions?
Jefferson rejected the notion of a “perpetual Constitution” or even a “perpetual law.” The “living generation” must determine its own course, as Jefferson saw it, and not be burdened by the debts of the previous generation.
What makes Thomas Jefferson so controversial? - Frank Cogliano
Did the founding fathers want us to change the Constitution?
The Founding Fathers understood that the Constitution should be able to change and grow with time, so they included a way to change the Constitution.
Why did Jefferson oppose the Constitution?
Jefferson wanted Bill of Rights for Constitution
Jefferson recognized that a stronger federal government would make the country more secure economically and militarily, but he feared that a strong central government might become too powerful, restricting citizens' rights.
What was Thomas Jefferson's motto?
It bears the motto, "Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God." Jefferson's memorandum book contains the notation, "Pd.
What did Thomas Jefferson say before he died?
Thomas Jefferson's most famous final words were about the date, asking, "Is it the Fourth?" or stating, "This is the Fourth of July," as he died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; however, his very last recorded words to his doctor were likely the simple, "No, doctor, nothing more," refusing more medicine. These poetic final inquiries reflect his deep connection to the date, though his ultimate utterance was a quiet dismissal of medication.
What did JFK say about Thomas Jefferson?
Jefferson Quotes & Family Letters
I think this is the most extraordinary collection of talent, of human knowledge, that has ever been gathered together at the White House, with the possible exception of when Thomas Jefferson dined alone.
What is the famous quote from the Constitution?
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of ...
How long did the founding fathers think the Constitution would last?
At the end of the Constitutional Convention, George Washington said, "I do not expect the Constitution to last for more than 20 years." Today, the United States has oldest written constitution in the world. Why has the Constitution survived?
What was Thomas Jefferson's strict interpretation of the Constitution?
Jefferson took a strict, literal view of constitutional powers, meaning that specific powers reserved for the President and Executive Branch needed to be spelled out in the Constitution.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about the Constitution?
The constitution and the laws of their predecessors extinguished then in their natural course, with those who gave them being. This could preserve that being till it ceased to be itself, & no longer. Every constitution then, & every law, naturally expires at the end of 19 years.
What is a famous quote about the First Amendment?
9. "The First Amendment is often inconvenient. But that is beside the point. Inconvenience does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech." ― Anthony Kennedy, United States Supreme Court.
Why was Jefferson worried about the new Constitution?
Thomas Jefferson's December 20, 1787, letter to James Madison contains objections to key parts of the new Federal Constitution. Primarily, Jefferson noted the absence of a bill of rights and the failure to provide for rotation in office or term limits, particularly for the chief executive.
What is Thomas Jefferson's most famous quote?
Thomas Jefferson's most famous quote is often considered to be from the Declaration of Independence, particularly the preamble's "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness," but another well-known quote inscribed on the Thomas Jefferson Memorial is, "I have sworn upon the altar of God eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man" (from a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush). Other popular ones include "In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock," and "When angry, count ten before you speak; if very angry, an hundred".
Did Jefferson free his slaves after he died?
Only seven people were spared: the five whom Jefferson freed in his will―Burwell Colbert, Joseph Fossett, John Hemmings, Madison Hemings, and Eston Hemings―and two whose informal emancipation he had recommended―Sally Hemings and Wormley Hughes.
What were JFK's last words?
Nellie Connally turned and commented to Kennedy, who was sitting behind her, "Mr. President, they can't make you believe now that there are not some in Dallas who love and appreciate you, can they?" Kennedy's reply – "No, they sure can't" – were his last words.
What did Thomas Jefferson say about religion and politics?
Jefferson saw religious freedom as essential for a functioning republic. Without religious freedom and a strict separation of church and state, “kings, nobles, and priests” threatened to create a dangerous aristocracy.
What was Thomas Jefferson's best thing he did?
Many words describe Thomas Jefferson. He is best remembered for writing the Declaration of Independence, for serving as the third president of the United States, and for championing universal rights while holding over 600 people in slavery.
What were Jefferson's last words?
Thomas Jefferson's most famous final words were about the date, asking, "Is it the Fourth?" or stating, "This is the Fourth of July," as he died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence; however, his very last recorded words to his doctor were likely the simple, "No, doctor, nothing more," refusing more medicine. These poetic final inquiries reflect his deep connection to the date, though his ultimate utterance was a quiet dismissal of medication.
Did Thomas Jefferson want to abolish slavery in the Constitution?
To Jefferson, it was anti-democratic and contrary to the principles of the American Revolution for the federal government to enact abolition or for only a few planters to free their slaves. Although Jefferson continued to advocate for abolition, the reality was that slavery was becoming more entrenched.
Did Thomas Jefferson want to change the Constitution?
Jefferson wanted the 19 year clause because he recognized that unless there was a set time for change then the constitution might become stagnate, becoming more of an abused document and not the law of the land.
Who wrote the First Amendment?
The freedom of religion, composed in part by the right to free expression, had become a pivotal tenet of the American Revolution, and was extensively defended as such by James Madison, the lead author of the First Amendment.